Quick Hits - The Woodland Plantation

Price : $2500 for 3 Nights / 3 Days Fishing (Based on Private Room / Shared Guide).  Shorter and longer packages are available. 

Species:   Redfish, Black Drum, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Jacks, and more.  

Seasonality :  Year Round

Location : Plaquemines Parish.  Forty-five minutes from New Orleans

About The Woodland Plantation

The marshes south of New Orleans should be recognized as one of the world’s most prolific year-round saltwater fisheries. We are very excited to promote this region as a premier, yet totally affordable and convenient fly fishing destination. We hate bad mouthing the redfish fishing in the Lone Star State, however the fact is the marshes south of New Orleans are the most impressive inshore fishery we have seen in the Gulf of Mexico, by far. The Louisiana marsh is home to the biggest, most plentiful, and least educated redfish imaginable . . . less than one hour from the New Orleans airport.

All our captains are highly skilled fly fishing guides with proper skinny water flats skiffs. They collectively have been fishing the marsh for decades and spend an average of 200+ days a year on the water. All fishing in the marsh is true sight casting to redfish in shallow water. Casting must be accurate, but nearly all presentations are within 10-40 feet, making this one of the most user friendly destinations for anglers of all skill levels.

Anglers stay in single or double occupancy accommodations (mostly single) at the antebellum mansion / converted Inn called the Woodland Plantation.  Woodland, and owner Foster Creppel, offer up the epitome of Southern hospitality, comfortable accommodations, incredible food, a well stocked bar and a lively atmosphere.

It is almost too good to be true; the travel involved is simple, it is totally affordable with classy accommodations, and the redfish fishing is the best there is anywhere. Plaquemines Parish Louisiana has become a second home in a way to everyone at Tailwaters Fly Fishing Company. It is a part of the world loaded with great friends, rich history and a beautiful fishery.

The Fishing at The Woodland Plantation

The Louisiana coastal marsh is a fantastic sight fishing venue. You simply have to experience it to believe it, but the numbers and size of the reds found in the marsh beats anywhere we have seen or even heard of. In our experience, there are few saltwater destinations located in the continental United States that have held up so well despite all that human development and Mother Nature’s storms have done to destroy it. It is simply stunning how rich, vibrant and full of life the marshes are south of “The Big Easy.” Around every corner, in every bay, creek, or backcountry pond there are large, plentiful and eager redfish. From the popular winter fishing for the bull reds (often exceeding 30 pounds) to the reliable spring and summer fishing for tremendous numbers of 5-15 pounders, the Louisiana Gulf coast is a saltwater fly angler’s paradise.

The marsh is a huge labyrinth of small islands, channels, ponds, bayous, bays, and mud flats that seems to go on endlessly to the Gulf of Mexico. Another amazing facet to the fishery is the fact that nobody else fishes it! The area is accessed by our guides’ top of the line skiffs (Hell’s Bay, Burton, East Cape, Maverick, Ranger). Nearly all of these areas can only be reached with a proper flats boat, so you almost never see other anglers while you are out; guaranteeing consistent shots for uneducated reds when conditions are favorable.

All fishing is done from the boat as the muddy flats are too soft to wade. However, all anglers are amazed at the sight of redfish cruising in skinny water. The water in the marsh is a bit off-color when compared to other fisheries such as the Laguna Madre in Texas, but all of your fishing is done sight casting to individuals, small pods and often tremendously large schools of fish. Casts are typically in the 10-30 foot range, making it a fishery that anglers of any skill level can have great success. Just pick up the line, one false cast, and bang’em on the head and they will eat it!

FISHING EQUIPMENT PROVIDED

The gear required for fishing the marsh is not sophisticated. Anglers want an 8 weight rod for the spring and summer fishing and a 9-10 weight for the winter fishing. Our fly fishing captains provide all flies and terminal tackle required for no extra charge. In many cases we can also arrange for you to borrow fly rods and reels as well as spinning gear outfits. Pretty much just show up with a fishing license, appropriate clothing and polarized sunglasses and you are ready to go fishing.

NOTE FOR CONVENTIONAL ANGLERS

If you or anyone in your party are not fly anglers, you can certainly enjoy phenomenal fishing with your traditional casting or spinning rods. We also can organize trips with the best conventional gear / spin fishing guides in the gulf.

SPRING & SUMMERTIME FISHING

Everyone is seduced by the idea of giant bull reds in the wintertime. Don’t overlook the spring and summer fishing! The marsh is loaded with zillions of happy medium sized reds often tailing in super shallow water. The spring and summertime weather is normally much more predictable as well. Our captains also frequently find huge schools of hundreds of large bull reds gathered together chasing bait on the beaches. This fishing can often be more exciting and consistent than the wintertime bull red fishing.

OTHER SPECIES

Although the fly fishing guides mainly target redfish, the marsh is also loaded with speckled trout, sheepshead and enormous black drum. In the spring & summer months it is also very common to run into large schools of cooperative jack crevalle (up to 30 pounds) as well as adult tarpon.

OFFSHORE OPTIONS

Want to combine a few days of Redfish with some offshore fishing for Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Blue Marlin, Mahi-mahi, Backfin Tuna, grouper, and much more? Although there are no offshore captains well versed in fly fishing for these other species, they are learning. One of our fly fishing guides can accompany you on an offshore charter to lend a hand in targeting these species on conventional gear and on the fly.

Accommodations at The Woodland Plantation 

The Woodland Plantation – a historic, antebellum mansion converted into a lively bed and breakfast – is THE best place to stay when fishing the Louisiana marsh. Originally established as a working plantation in 1834, the Woodland is now a family owned and operated hotel with over twenty bedrooms, each with private baths. In addition to the “Big House,” the Plantation also has five other buildings on the property for smaller groups to enjoy a private house or condo-style accommodations.

The Woodland is located right along the west bank of the Mississippi River forty-five minutes from New Orleans and ten minutes from the primary boat launch. It is everything you would expect in a 180 year-old southern mansion including quiet bedrooms, rocking chairs on the porch, and a swamp with alligators out back. Note a rendering of the Woodland Plantation “Big House” is actually represented on the label of the Southern Comfort bourbon bottle.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Woodland Plantation is their “Spirits Hall” dining room and bar. Once a Catholic church located downriver, Foster moved, refurbished, and converted it into the charming social gather spot for guests. Ironically, the modified pulpit is now a well stocked bar. The ball game is always on the television, and someone is always available to share a drink or memories from your fishing day on the marsh.

Foster and his staff kick out incredible food you would expect from a proper fishing lodge. Oysters on the half shell, fried shrimp, gumbo, blackened redfish or “puppy drum,” beef, pulled pork and every other cajun masterpiece imaginable. Homemade desserts range from pecan pie to bread pudding or ice cream. Boat lunches are usually sandwiches or creatively presented leftovers, however make sure to request Foster’s muffaletta sandwiches.

The Woodland Plantation has over twenty bedrooms and can accommodate groups as large as forty-five guests. Our team of guides typically run 5 to 6 skiffs with 10 to 12 fly anglers, but depending on availability (and if booked far enough in advance), can handle up to twenty fly anglers at a time. Our conventional guides can handle more fishermen than the Plantation can accommodate.

*** Note that most rooms at Woodland have one queen or king sized bed. Guests that are not sharing a room with a spouse or significant other are traditionally booked in single occupancy rooms. 

When To Go Fish Southeast Louisiana 

The fishery in Southeast Louisiana is truly year round.  When the weather is good and the conditions are nice, good fishing normally follows.  

CLICK HERE for the Ultimate Guide to Redfish in Louisiana that goes into much more detail about seasonality you should find very useful when selecting your dates.  

“BULL RED SEASON” in Louisiana

The late fall and winter months (November – March) are known as the bull redfish season, when the most 20-30+ pound fish are around in the shallow marsh and mud flats. This is also the most popular time to visit, and our guides are normally completely booked months or even a year in advance, especially on the weekends.

LATE SPRING, SUMMER, & EARLY FALL Fishing in Louisiana

While winter tends to book up with anglers searching for giant bull reds, don’t overlook the late spring, summer, and early fall fishing! This is actually our favorite time to visit Woodland Plantation, as the marsh is loaded with zillions of happy, medium sized reds often tailing in super shallow water.  The late spring, summer, and fall weather is normally much more predictable as well, without the cold fronts. 

Our captains also frequently find huge schools of large bull reds gathered together crashing bait on the edge of the gulf and marsh in the late summer when the river is down. This fishing can be more exciting and consistent than the wintertime bull red fishing.

NON-ANGLING ACTIVITIES at The Woodland Plantation

Fishing is the predominant activity at Woodland, but we can arrange for waterfowl hunts and regional tours.  Nearby Delta National Wildlife refuge is a bird watchers dream, and of course guests are only 45 minutes from the heart of New Orleans.  

The Woodland Plantation is a perfect venue for any type of group. From individual clients to larger corporate outings or even weddings, Foster and his staff can handle it all.

Also know that there is no better destination to consider for a bachelor party. We have organized multiple bachelor parties for groups of guys looking to get away, eat and drink well, do some fishing, enjoy the laid back atmosphere at the Woodland, and then take the party to New Orleans for a night. In the words of owner and operator Foster Creppel, “as long as they don’t break anything and pay the bar tab, they can do whatever they want.”